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Kelly, Shaheerah

From: Kelly, Shaheerah

Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2015 3:05 PM

Subject: Public Notice of Request for Public Comment under Section 106 of the National 

Historic Preservation Act

* * * PUBLIC NOTICE * * * 

McELMO CREEK UNIT OIL PRODUCTION FACILITY 

REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT UNDER 

SECTION 106 OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT 

On October 15, 2014, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 proposed to amend 

the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit, in accordance with PSD air quality regulations (40 

CFR 52.21), for the McElmo Creek Unit Oil Production Facility (MCU Facility), an existing oil and gas 

production operation. The MCU Facility is owned, in partnership with the Navajo Nation Oil and Gas 

Company, and operated by the Resolute Natural Resources Company. The facility is located in Section 31, 

Township 40 South, Range 25 East within the Four Corners Area on the Navajo Nation Reservation near the 

town of Aneth, San Juan County, Utah. 

EPA’s proposed amendments to the PSD permit include adding pollution limits, terms and conditions for the 

already existing Main Flare at the MCU Facility pursuant to a federal Consent Decree (United States v. Mobil 

Exploration and Producing U.S. Inc., Case No. 2:05-CV-319, filed June 8, 2005). These pollution limits, terms 

and conditions include Best Available Control Technology emission limitations for nitrogen oxides, carbon 

monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds for the Main Flare at the MCU 

Facility. Additionally, EPA is amending the permit to remove certain equipment, and the applicable permit 

requirements that apply because this equipment has been shut down and removed from the site. Other than the 

potential replacement of the fan on the Main Flare to provide better pollution control, this permit action does 

not authorize any new construction or modification of existing equipment at the MCU Facility.

In accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the implementing 

regulations at 36 CFR 800, EPA is seeking public comment on the October 15, 2014, proposed permit action’s 

potential to directly (e.g. physically) and indirectly (e.g. visually) affect historic properties, and information on 

potential adverse effects to historic properties and/or traditional cultural properties (e.g. archeological 

sites). Historic properties include places, structures, objects, etc. that are listed on, or eligible for inclusion on, 

the National Register of Historic Places. Historic properties include artifacts, records, and remains that are 

related to and located within such properties. For more information about the permit action, visit 

http://www2.epa.gov/caa-permitting/prevention-significant-deterioration-psd-permits-tribal-lands-issuedregion-9, or contact Shaheerah Kelly at (415) 947-4156 or R9airpermits@epa.gov. More information about the 

NHPA process can be found at http://www.achp.gov/docs/CitizenGuide.pdf. Please submit any comments to 

Shaheerah Kelly, Air Division (AIR-3), U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9, 75 Hawthorne 

Street, San Francisco, California 94105-3901 or by electronic mail to R9airpermits@epa.gov by November 3, 

2015.